NEWS Archives - Page 15 of 80 - North West End UK

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lands at the Grand Opera House York

14Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lands at the Grand Opera House York

Watch out! The most Fantasmagorical musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, lands at the Grand Opera House York this Easter. One of the world’s favourite musicals, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is set to have audiences of all ages flying high with its mixture of madness, mayhem and magic! Can the loveable but whacky inventor, Potts, along with his two children and the gorgeous Truly Scrumptious outwit the bombastic Baron Bomburst who has decreed that all children be banished from his kingdom? What happens when the evil Childcatcher is sent out to capture the children? Will it all end happily-ever-after? Having broken all box office records in the West End, this fun-filled new production from York Stage, the team that brought you Elf and Shrek the Musical, promises laughs and magic galore – an...

Cast announced for the 1st London revival of Betty Blue Eyes

14Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Cast announced for the 1st London revival of Betty Blue Eyes

Premiering in 2011, ‘Betty Blue Eyes’, Book by Ron Cowen & Daniel Lipman, Music by George Stiles, Lyrics by Anthony Drewe based on the film ‘A Private Function’ by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray, received nominations for ‘Best New Musical’ in the Olivier Awards, The Evening Standard Awards and the WhatsOnStage.com Awards. It is 1947, war has ended but Britain’s citizens are suffering under the burden of food rationing, high unemployment and the coldest winter for decades. The only bright spark on the horizon is the impending marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Enter Betty, an adorable pig who is being illegally reared to ensure local dignitaries of a small community in Yorkshire can celebrate the Royal Wedding with a lavish banquet whilst the local population make...

Award-Winning play How Not to Drown comes to Oldham Coliseum

14Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Award-Winning play How Not to Drown comes to Oldham Coliseum

The award-winning Manchester based theatre company ThickSkin returns to the city for the Oldham dates of performer Dritan Kastrati’s real-life story. Set in 2002 at the end of the Kosovan War, this impactful andcompelling play follows Dritan as an 11-year-old who was sent on the notoriously perilous journey across the Adriatic accompanied by a gang of people smugglers to a new life in Europe. Relying on young wit and charm on his journey to the UK, Dritan’s fight for survival continues when he finds himself caught within the British care system, struggling to cling onto his identity and sense of self. Dritan plays himself at various points in the play which has been co-written with playwright Nicola McCartney, who is herself a foster carer, following 60 hours of recorded interviews betw...

The Choir of Man supports Comic Relief 2023

13Mar

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

NEWS

The Choir of Man supports Comic Relief 2023

On Red Nose Day the Olivier Award nominated international stage sensation The Choir of Man will dedicate both its shows to Comic Relief. The cast and creative team will also be involved in a top-secret celebrity challenge this year – with more to be revealed! The Olivier Award nominated international stage sensation, The Choir of Man, currently playing at the Arts Theatre in the West End, has partnered with Comic Relief this year. It will dedicate three performances to fundraise for Red Nose Day. These are the evening performance on Thursday 16th March and both performances on Friday 17th March. Audiences at the Arts Theatre will have the opportunity to donate in situ pre and post show, with donation points set up in the theatre, and an on-stage message from ‘The Poet’ Connor Hanley,...

Spring/Summer 2023 with British Youth Music Theatre

13Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Spring/Summer 2023 with British Youth Music Theatre

The UK’s leading new musical theatre company for young people 11-21 years old has announced their 2023 season of Easter & Summer performances led by new Chief Executive and Creative Director Emily Gray, who has ensured the voices and ideas of BYMT’s Young Company Panel are at the heart of the programme choices. This new season is filled with brand new musicals, returning BYMT favourites, and dance led work. Following prior popularity, Angry Salmon, a fin-tastic new show set in an underwater world of both farmed and wild fish returns for a second year, led by writers Jordan Clarke & Ali James (Showstoppers). Other season highlights include the first creation of a grime musical, written by the pioneering Thabo Stuck, with music producers including Dark Star; telling a historical s...

The Phantom of the Opera extends bookings until 2024

12Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Phantom of the Opera extends bookings until 2024

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Her Majesty’s Theatre announces today that booking is now extended until Saturday 2nd March 2024. With new production images also released. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA currently stars Earl Carpenter as The Phantom alongside Holly-Anne Hull as Christine Daaé, Matt Blaker as Raoul, Kelly Glyptis as Carlotta, Matt Harrop as Monsieur Firmin, Adam Linstead as Monsieur André, Greg Castiglioni as Ubaldo Piangi, Francesca Ellis as Madame Giry and Ellie Young as Meg Giry. At certain performances the role of Christine Daaé is played by Paige Blankson. From Monday 3rd April Jon Robyns joins the company as The Phantom. The cast is completed by Hollie Aires, Connor Carson, Corina Clark, Michelle Cornelius, Edward Court, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Serina Faul...

Blanket Ban comes to Southwark Playhouse

12Mar

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

NEWS

Blanket Ban comes to Southwark Playhouse

Following its hit run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, theatre makers and activists Davinia Hamilton and Marta Vella bring their rallying cry for Maltese reproductive rights to Southwark Playhouse. Blanket Ban was performed as part of New Diorama and Underbelly’s Untapped Award, and combines the artists’ lived experience with interviews, stories and video footage of Maltese women who have suffered the life-changing and life-threatening consequences of the country’s blanket ban on abortion. Malta: a country of Catholic kitsch, golden sun, deep blue sea and Eurovision fanatics. It leads internationally on progressive LGBTQIA+ rights, including trailblazing transgender laws — but also has some of the strictest abortion laws in the world. Taking a fondly critical look at their home country and...

Dare you spend Halloween in a haunted West End theatre?

12Mar

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

NEWS

Dare you spend Halloween in a haunted West End theatre?

Theatres are alive. They have a soul. And they all have supernatural stories to tell.... Every theatre has ghosts and sightings, spectral visions reported backstage by terrified actors, mysterious apparitions that walk the stage at night, corridors and stairwells that are avoided by staff who have experienced a sudden drop in temperature... Do YOU believe in ghosts? And are YOU feeling brave? The West End premiere of ‘Do You Believe in Ghosts?’ at London’s Adelphi Theatre on Halloween, October 31st (with more West End dates to be announced), has enough chills and shocks to convince even the most die-hard sceptic! Packed with stories of things that go bump in the night - or the day - and things that just don’t add up, ‘Do You Believe in Ghosts?’ is unlike any other ghost story y...

New Vic Theatre revives cult classic The Killing of Sister George

12Mar

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

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New Vic Theatre revives cult classic The Killing of Sister George

New Vic Theatre and physical theatre company Told By An Idiot have joined forces for a rare revival of sixties cult classic The Killing of Sister George. The Newcastle-Under-Lyme theatres in the round space is perfect for the acerbic comedy drama by Frank Marcus observing the life of June Buckeridge, who plays the role of kindly district nurse Sister George in fictitious radio soap opera 'Applehurst'. In reality June is a swaggering foul-mouthed loose cannon whose career and lifestyle is under threat. Set during the 1960s, the play explores the volatile relationship between June and her partner Alice, and the effect the demise of her fictional character has on her. Famously adapted into a dark cult film in 1968 starring Beryl Reid, the play incorporates wicked humour with m...

Mikron Theatre are back for their 51st season with a new Poppy Hollman play

7Mar

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Mikron Theatre are back for their 51st season with a new Poppy Hollman play

Mikron Theatre are getting back on their touring barge for a 51st season with the premiere of Poppy Hollman's new play Twitchers, and there's original live music thrown in. Springwatch is coming to RSPB Shrikewing nature reserve, but as we meet raucous rooks, booming bitterns and plenty of tits we realise the birds of Shrikewing are its real stars. Can Jess take inspiration from the RSPB's tenacious female founders, and draw on its history of campaigning to save them, or can she find her own voice to raise a rallying cry for nature? The production's cast of actor-musicians will set sail on the company's unique vintage narrowboat taking the show to all sorts of non-traditional venues. This year's company who all act, sing and even set the stage up are Eddie Ahrens, Hannah Baker, Harve...